(View Congressman Courtney's Remarks in Mansfield on YouTube)

U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney, representing Connecticut’s Second Congressional District, met with Mayor Antonia Moran, Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth, and Mansfield town staff to discuss the $1.952 million federal Community Project funding.  The Town of Mansfield has been working with Congressman Courtney’s office to secure this funding to build a multi-use pathway from Mansfield’s Four Corners to Tower Loop Road, thereby improving bicycle and pedestrian accessibility along a busy section of Rte. 195 to both the UConn campus as well as Mansfield’s downtown business district. This Community Project funding was signed into law earlier this February. 

 The funding will be paired with $1.25 million in federal funding, plus a local town contribution that the Town of Mansfield and Congressman Courtney secured previously for this infrastructure project.  With the planned growth in housing and other development in the Four Corners area and northwest Mansfield, this trail provides a safe, walkable alternative for residents. Rte. 195 (Storrs Road) is a heavily used state road, frequently traveled by commuters and visitors to the University of Connecticut.

 The total anticipated project cost is $3.5 million, leaving approximately $488,000 that will require a commitment of state or local funding.   Mansfield’s Assistant Director of Public Works, Derek Dilaj, estimated the project will take two to three years to complete, in cooperation with Connecticut Department of Transportation.   

 Congressman Courtney said, “Two weeks ago Congress completed action on about 95% of the spending bills to fund the federal government, and it included the Transportation-Housing-Urban Development Bill, known in Washington as T-HUD.”  

 The multi-use trail project had been submitted for consideration in the 2025 budget, then re-submitted again this year by the Congressman’s office. “Whatever the proposed project, there must be a precise explanation for how the funds will be spent. But projects must show that there’s a regional benefit—(in this case) not just a specific transportation issue, but also an impact on public safety.   The appropriations committee scrubs these projects hard.  It’s a credit to your Town staff – they did a really good job putting this proposal together. We just want to take a moment to celebrate and congratulate Mansfield,” added the Congressman.

  “This project is absolutely critical to give people a safe way, whether on bike or by foot, to navigate the roughly eighth tenths of a mile along Storrs Road to the UConn campus,”   said Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth.    Acknowledging the effort of Congressman Courtney’s office, he said, “This has been many years in the making, with two major installments of federal funds due to your help.  We’re very excited to get this project fully designed and under construction.  Things don’t happen overnight, but we’re far closer now than we have ever been.  Your support is obviously an enormous part of what’s that’s allowed this to happen. We thank you.”

 “This project really needs to happen. I’ve been over to that site enough times to understand it’s not safe. I see how people navigate that road. Congratulations to Mansfield,” Congressman Courtney added.